The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 98: Ch : It’s because of Lack of Sleep - Part 4

’She broke my connection. What a fascinating human. I want to get to know her even more now.’

Rose Grayson opened his eyes slowly, the dim light of the room casting soft shadows across his face.

His expression remained calm, but his hand trembled as it pressed against his temple.

A dull, throbbing pain pulsed through his skull, and he coughed as pain assaulted his body. He tried to suppress it, but his fingers came away slick with a smear of blood when he touched his mouth.

He chuckled, the sound a mix of amusement and discomfort.

"Stubborn, aren’t you? I knew you’d be fun."

He murmured, his voice hoarse.

The woman beside him, the same one who had accompanied him to the government meeting, leaned forward. Her dark hair framed a face tight with worry.

"Rose, are you okay?"

He turned his head slowly, a lazy smile spreading across his lips.

"Of course, Lyra. Just a little pushback. It’s nothing."

Lyra’s expression hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Nothing? You’re bleeding." freēwēbnovel.com

Rose touched the corner of his mouth, his thumb coming away red. He stared at the blood, tilting his head as if it were a curious specimen.

"Huh. That’s new."

Lyra reached for a cloth and handed it to him.

"You’re pushing too hard. You promised me you’d take it easy."

He wiped his mouth, the crimson smearing against the white fabric.

"It’s not like I had a choice. My partner is... more spirited than I anticipated."

Lyra groaned, her hands dropping to her sides.

"There you go again. She’s not your partner, Rose. She’s not anything to you."

"But she will be. We are a match made by fate. She just doesn’t realize it yet."

His voice softened, and his amber eyes took on a dreamy quality.

Lyra exhaled sharply, her patience thinning.

"You’re delusional."

Rose didn’t argue. Instead, he let out a soft laugh, the sound light and unsettling.

"Perhaps. But what’s a little madness in the name of destiny?"

He pressed the cloth to his lips again, this time with a gentler touch.

"Besides, I’m not doing this just for me. It’s for everyone. For a better future."

Lyra’s shoulders slumped.

"If you say so. Just... try not to kill yourself before that future arrives."

"Not to worry." He leaned back, draping an arm over the back of the sofa.

"I’ve got too much to look forward to."

Meanwhile, inside the dungeon, Selene and Ethan stood at the entrance to the boss room.

The air hung heavy with a sweet, cloying scent, and mist curled around their feet.

The greenhouse-like environment of the previous section had given way to a twisted garden.

Flowers with razor-edged petals bloomed among thorny vines, and luminescent spores floated through the air like tiny, ghostly lanterns.

Selene tightened her grip on her dagger.

Her Insight buzzed at the edges of her senses, a constant hum that made her head ache.

But she pushed the discomfort aside, focusing on the energy signature in front of her.

The dungeon boss stood at the center of the room—a towering creature with a humanoid silhouette but distinctly plant-like features.

Its face resembled a rose, petals unfolding with each breath, and its limbs were elongated vines ending in thorny whips.

With every movement, the boss released small puffs of spores that clung to the air, sparking with volatile energy.

Ethan didn’t wait.

He charged forward, his blade cutting through the air. His speed was blinding, a flash of silver against the green and red of the dungeon’s overgrowth.

His sword collided with one of the boss’s whip-like arms, sending petals scattering.

Selene moved to the side, circling the creature.

Her Insight painted faint trails of danger zones, showing her where the spores would detonate.

Small, controlled explosions erupted around her, the ground scorching where the spores landed. She danced between them, each step precise and measured.

"Ethan! The spores—how often?"

She called out. Thankfully, she did not need to finish her sentence for Ethan to understand her questions.

He ducked under another whip, grunting with effort.

"Ten-second cooldown, maybe less. They’re slowing down."

Selene nodded, her mind racing. The boss’s ability was potent, but it had limits. If they could outlast it, they’d have an opening.

Her Insight flared again, and this time, she saw it—deep within the boss’s chest, a faint glow.

The core.

It pulsed with a soft green light, nestled among twisting vines and hardened bark.

"Cover me!"

She shouted.

Ethan didn’t respond verbally, but his movements shifted. He drew the boss’s attention, his strikes sharper and more aggressive.

The creature focused on him, its petal-face contorting as it lashed out with both whips, spores bursting in a ring around them.

Selene sprinted forward. Her vision narrowed, the room’s details blurring at the edges.

She could feel the exhaustion dragging at her, a weight on her shoulders, but she forced herself to keep going.

A whip cracked against the ground, missing her by inches.

She slid under a tangle of vines, her dagger clutched tight in her hand. The core pulsed, a heartbeat surrounded by flesh and flora.

She lunged, her hand reaching out.

The moment stretched, each second a battle against her own fatigue.

Her fingers closed around the core, and she yanked with all her strength.

There was a sickening crunch, and the boss let out a screech—a sound like wind through dying leaves. Its body convulsed, vines snapping and petals wilting.

The core came free, its glow bright and violent.

The dungeon trembled, the greenhouse walls fracturing as light poured through.

The mist evaporated, and the oppressive weight of the dungeon’s mana began to dissipate.

Ethan landed beside her, his breathing steady despite the battle. His mask was still on, his expression hidden, but his posture radiated relief.

"You did it."

He said.

Selene didn’t respond. Her eyes were locked on the core in her hand. It was warm, pulsing with a rhythm that matched the throbbing in her head.

Her head pounded, a sharp and unrelenting pain. She swayed on her feet, her vision going dark at the edges.

"Selene?"

Ethan’s voice seemed distant, muffled.